New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-12-25
THIS UNCERTAIN WORLD.
THE STORY OF TEDDY OGRADYS
TRUST.
A CHRISTMAS TALE.
Written for tn, Tribufv

"Capital! ~ said Old Muggleby.
couldn't be better ~ said Young Muggleby
But the law, my dear srs," said Mr.. Badger "tho
law, which is the terror Of the great protcc
fon the lowy-the must DO carefully observed,
Bah !" said Old Mugglcby
Pooh!' said Young Muggleby.
"Thats all right, gentemenn said Mr. Badger.
ats easy enough to say bah ? and POOH But
you forget that the law is rcspecter of persons.
1t ought to be, but amt. It's quite as likely to
take the just as lie unjust That. gentlemen. is the
significance OF the well-known symbolic figure Of
Justice with her eyes bandagcd and her blade I'M
sheahed. Nothing Is moro
BADGER said Old Mugglcby this amt a caucus
Pardon me, gentlemen. If digrcss. merely de-
signed TO snow that the legal formalltics must be
given due attention Have made myself clcar?"
Perfectly" said Old Mugglcby
Clear as a WHISTLE" said Young Muggleby.
Il hope I have, gentlemen" said Mr. Badger, al
hope l have. Throughout the delincation of this
carefully laid scheme i have constantly endcavored
to be explicit. But II so be as l have failed in this
essential partfcularr-and Mr.. Badger glanced siglif.
cantly at the closet-"a drop of brandy with a leee
soda"
mo, no you're clear enough said Old Muggleby.
"That, as have said, my earnest effort CON
tnued Mr. Badger, gazing dreamly at the closet L" But
ideas like dough in the good wfc's baking pan,
always liable to stick If so be as have not made
myself entirely plain thcn-r
old Muggleby sighed Fetch the BOTTLE Peter.
he said
"Thankce. Friend Mugglcby,D Mr. Badger proceed
ed. There's nothing like drop OF brandy with
leetlc soda for looscning such ideas prone
stick In the rccesses If the mind All, Peter-thcre,
there, lad don't drown the favor, Peter Muggleby,
here's luchl' Mr.. Badger drained the glass, hcaved
long, contented sigh gazcd in profound contcmpla-
ton into the tumbler's empty depth and re
luctantly by.
THE plan, as have sketched IT OUT continued
Mr.. Badger, "leaves no loophole through which the
law reach you,
"Us you mcan,' suggested Old Muggcby.
Mr.. Badg coughcd. and brushed aside a persistent
fly which seemed determined to effect permanent
settlement the end of his
"You fully satisfied, I suppose, that yonr
nephews patent IS prove valuable 7" he asked
=" ! guess know what I'm about" replied the old
confidently.
I've haven't been spending money on the beg
gar for nothing" added his hopeful son.
Your advances already amount considerable
figure, as ! understand ii %
Old MugGleby groancd to think of It. Young Mug
glcby was more to the point.
IL should say they did, he answered "They
amount to Just twelve thousand five hundred dollars
and / enough u give the poor dcvil three
dollars and half to pay his board with yesterday"
What arc you throwing away your money for like
that - snorted Old Muggeby.
well. do feel ashamed of myself" said the young
apologcticaly; but guess we'll get it back"
"Oh yes It amt lost" said Mr.. badger, making a
desperate effort to catch the sprghtly fly which
gayly promenadng up and down his DO you
think he'll object to execute the assignments"
"Iet him object If he dare snarled Old Mugglcby
"We' put the screws on mighty Qdck7 added
Young Mugglcby
mo no, no; that will dor replied the law
yer, sharply. "YOu must not force I'm obtaining
the paper. That might impcril the whole scheme"
But suppose he kicks - Inquired the young
You may well understand right that, fool
he IS, he's not fool enough to give up his precious
patent without a struggle"
There must be no struggle, say Mr.. Badger
earnestly replied. You must decOy him into your
trap and If to illustrate his point he slyly raised
his 0Irved hand and brought It gently down upon
his nose Just time the merry fly jump brisk
ly OF and perch upon his bald and shiny head
al believe he stu gets money from Tom Twitcher,r
suggested Young Mugglcby.
Docs he 2" snapped the old man, WE'LL III soon
put a stop to that"
=" How ?" denai ded the young
am beggar ZEN both!'
"No no, guv'nor. that won't do. We've pulled
Twitchcr down as far as It's best to have him eo.'
"Bah - said Old Muggleby, contcmpuonsly. Pulled
him down. Nonsense. He's living like lord, he
and that silly girl of his. They spend ten times as
much money do and they owe ire Thousands.
Every penny they fritter away is mine Every fur
below and cimcrack that feeds her vanity and
dollar he wastes bras and beggars comes out Of my
pockct Pm tired Of IT, I've stood 1t long enough.
And If find that he IS supplying that scaawag with
money to cheat me. I'll make short work Of him.
Young Muggleby not a pleasant man to look at
His cunning cruel face did not admit of any agreeable
expressions. II he smiled, he looked like satyr
II he frowned he looked like a devil When he was
pleased you nightly wished he'd get in passion
When he stormcd, you almost preferred he should
laugh. During his irate progentor's last remark
Young Mugglcby drew his pcnlnfe from his pocket
and hacked the chair he sat occasionally glancng
nm coldly Then he slowly replied, punctuating each
word with a vindictve cut into the inohensive chair
"Guv'norr he said, "what you say may be true
.nu,h don't deny a W I'd of IT. But at the same
time It doesn't Just suit my plans to have you squeeze
Tom Twitcher any more Just now
ooh II don't CHI IN retorted the old man, sarcastic
ally. Since when did you come to have plans OF
your own, young manT
"I,m not as old as you, that's fact, GuvDor, and
perhaps I'm not as ugly. But know what want
and Pm not going Il, be cheated out Of just 10 crafty
your spite'
"Gentlemenn interrupted Mr.. Badger, who had
been much disturbed at The turn affairs had taKeh e'
us have peace. In tho words Cf-er-of' er-ah I'M
mortal poet, let have peace Let US DC pcrsuaoco
that all our lilo In tho same direction Unitcd
We stand divided we fall. 1t won't do to quarrel
over side issues. Tho prime business to which We
must devote cur combined energies is to secure all
solute possession Of HarvcyI think his name is Iiar-
vcyf"
dyes Harvey Almond" said Young Muggleby,
aa,nc with sligbt sneer "my fathers sisters SOM
Old Muggleby grunted
Precisely" continued Mr.. Badger, "of Harvey
Almonds patent We have made him large advances
TO enable him to develop bis patent and to place 1t on
the market We have been generous and Kind We
have borne in mind that he is our nephew ana our
cousin But he has proven ungrateful lie has
thrown our money away. lie mas iaoo' ~ uA'op
h,o ,a,o,, and he has overwhelmed himself In debt
our interests are imperiIled The only means ler us
of getting our money back by securing from MN an
assignment OF his patent and by developing !. our
selves That is fair statement Of the case Is II not
Friend MuRglebyf"
Old Muggcby grunted again.
TO be surc, said Mr.. Badger, looking down MS
-, o,c.n AT the tormentng ny which, standing erect